Baker should have shown gay couple common courtesy (2 letters)

Gay couple Dave Mullins, second from left, and Charlie Craig, left, were joined by a small group of supporters in Lakewood on Aug. 4, 2012 to protest and boycott the Masterpiece Cakeshop. The couple went to the shop for their wedding cake, and Jack Phillips, the owner, turned the couple away saying he would not make them a rainbow-themed wedding cake. The Colorado Supreme Court will not hear Phillipsâ case upholding previous rulings that he can not cite his religious beliefs or free speech as reason for refusing service. (Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post)

Letter-writer LaDene Haze writes that âthe best thing for Charlie Craig and David Mullins to have done was find another bakery that would have no problem baking them a wedding cake.â I donât think Craig and Mullins went to Jack Phillipsâ bakery to confront an evangelical homophobe. I hope not. The fact that they were refused service by Phillips was akin to me being refused service at a business, as I am a person of color. Iâm not just going to another business that will accept me for who I am. Perhaps it was Phillips who should have shown some âcommon sense and courtesy.â It would have saved a lot of trouble.

Mel Apodaca, Denver

This letter was published in the April 30 edition.

LaDene Haze asks, âWhat in the world has happened to common sense and courtesy?â

I wonder that as well. Since the mid-1960s we have had laws that do not allow discrimination to customers on the basis of a variety of characteristics that are inherent to the customer: race, religion, birthplace. While sexual orientation is not expressly stated, common sense should tell a proprietor that not serving a customer for any reason regarding who they inherently are is not allowed. And when you open a business to serve the public, common courtesy should suggest you serve the public without discrimination and in a spirit of helpfulness to serve their needs; it is why you are in business, after all.

So tell me, what did happen to common sense and courtesy? When did imposing your morality on your customers become the new standard of business?

Martin Ward, Littleton

This letter was published in the April 30 edition.

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